Updating Adobe Reader Using a .MSP File

If you read the previous article explaining how to extract an Adobe Reader .EXE file you will notice within the list of files below that there are a couple of files that have the .MSP extension.

An .MSP file is the Windows Installer patch file format used by Windows. When Adobe does Reader updates they typically involve .MSP files but may be .EXE or .MSI depending on the release type. If you want to apply a Adobe Reader .MSP patch using Configuration Manager 2012, it’s a fairly straightforward process once you extract the .MSP. Once you have the .MSP file you can create an update package using Configuration Manager 2012. Open Configuration Manager 2012 and go to \Software Library\Overview\Application Management\Packages, Right Click Packages, Create Package. This will open the “Create Package and Program Wizard”

Fill in the information below as it applies to your package, Click Next..

Choose the program type you would like to create, Accept the default, “Standard Program” and Click Next..

The page below lets you specify information about the program. On the command line you will see msiexec.exe /p patchname.msp /qn. The command msiexec.exe lets you install, modify, and perform operations on Windows Installer(.MSP) from the command line. The switch /p applies a patch followed by the name of the .MSP file, and the /qn means that there will be no user interface displayed. For more information on msiexec.exe command line switches visit the Microsoft Msiexec Page. Click Next..

Specify any requirements for this package, Accept the default and Click Next..

Confirm the Settings and Click Next..

The screen below lets you know that the “Create Package and Program Wizard” has completed successfully, you may now Close the Wizard and Deploy the Package.